Improvement in ladders



W. G. PHILIPS.

LADDER.

100.40500. PatentedNov. s, 1863. l

l UNITED STATES PATENT f OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. PHILIPS, oE'NEWPoEr, DELAWARE.

IVMPRovEVMENT IN inmunes.y

Specification for-ming part of Letters Patent No. 40.500. dated November` 3,- 1563.

section of my invention when used as a stepl or prop ladder. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same when used as an extension-ladder.l

Fig. 3 is a transverse 'vertical section of the same when foldedup and used as an ordinary ladder.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding part-s in the sever al figures.

"I'he object of this invention is to construct -a ladder which can be usedas au ordinary or as an extension ladder or asa step or prop' ladder, as occasion may require.

The invention consists in curving or bending out the lower ends of the side of a ladder in such a manner that all the rounds, with the exception of the lowest one,can be made of uniform length and still the required splay of the sides ofthe ladder is obtained; and furthermore, if two of these ladders are hinged togethenthey can be readily andconv'eniently folded up, on account of their parallel sides, i

and the ladder can be used as an extension 'or as an ordinary ladder-at' pleasure.

To enable those skilled -in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to de-4 scribe it.

My ladder is constructed of two sections, A B, which are hinged" together by pivots a. The sidesb of the sections A Bare curvedv out at their outer or bottom'ends, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Thes'hap'e of the curve may either be that given tothe sides of the ladder A, or it may be made in the form given to the sides of the ladder B, the object being to obtain the required splay for the ladder. In ordinary ladders the splay is obtained by gradually increasing the length of the rounds from the ltop down, which causes much labor and loss of time. By curving out the sides, as above described, all the rounds, with the vexception of the lowest or last one,

,or as many of the rounds asmay be desired,

2. In the latter case pins c, passing through y holes in both sections, render'the ladder'rigid.

C is a platform, which is hinged to the up per round ofthe section A. This platform is provided .with a cleat or catch, d, at its under surface, and if my ladder is used as a step or' prop ladder the platformis'turned down to a horizontal position, causing the cleatd' tocatch over they upper round of the second section,' B, of the ladder. By these means the two sections are preventedv from spreading any fartherl than desirable, and the platform answers to set the basket on or to stand on to gather fruit. l

This ladder is cheap in its construction, it is light and easily handled, and it is very convenient because it can be used in its different forms with equal facility. 'y y V,

What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isl 1 Carving or ben "f out the sides b 'of a ladder, substantially as and for the, purpose shown and described.

WM. G. PHILIPS. Witnesses:

ISRAEL ToUNsEUEa, A. RAALS. 

